As the 2021 NHL season winds down, the question arises: who is the Islanders toughest playoff matchup in their division?

Currently, the Islanders are locked in a tough battle. They are neck and neck with the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Boston Bruins are close behind. With less than 10 games remaining, it will come down to the wire.

Assuming the current playoff teams maintain their status, the Islanders will either play the Bruins, Penguins or the Capitals.

This current season the Islanders have exhibited unprecedented success against the Bruins compared to how they have performed against them in past years. So far this season, the Islanders have five wins against the Bruins and only two losses.

Surprisingly, the Islanders have struggled against the Penguins this season. Even though it appeared that the two organizations were heading in opposite directions, with the Islanders trending upwards and the Penguins trending downwards, the Penguins have had a strong season and more or less have been the Islanders achilles’ heel this season.

The Islanders have lost six games and only have won two against Pittsburgh. About a third of the Islanders total losses this season have come at the hands of the Penguins.

At this point in the season for the Islanders, games against the Capitals have been pretty even. The Capitals won the first two games against the Islanders when the team was going through some early struggles. The Islanders then won the next two games against the Capitals on home ice later in the season, and the Capitals won the last two games they played last week.

It may come as a surprise to some fans that the Islanders have not had more success against the Penguins and the Capitals this season. The Islanders swept the Penguins in the playoffs two years ago and beat the Capitals in five games last season.

Because of recent struggles with the Penguins and the Capitals this season and more success against the Bruins, fans may be more inclined to face Boston in the playoffs.

However, the Bruins are a different animal come playoff time. The Bruins are a team built for the postseason. The Bruins have given the NHL so many vintage playoff moments at TD Garden and are not looking to stop any time soon. The atmosphere is electric, as the entire city is behind one team, and the town expects championships.

It’s Stanley Cup or bust for the Bruins, which is a dangerous thing to go up against come playoff time, especially now, with the possibility capacity limits may be loosened as the vaccine rollout continues. To add more reasons why the Islanders should not want to face the Bruins, the acquisition of Taylor Hall keeps looking better and better. He does not have to be “the guy.” Therefore, he can be a factor.

Moreover, when you play the Penguins and the Capitals in the postseason, you know what you are going to get out of them. When both teams are firing on all cylinders, it’s a championship. On the other hand, when you can shut down their star players and give them absolutely nothing on the ice, it is a series win for the opposition.

In contrast, the Bruins are a wildcard. They are a team that can be down three goals in a Game 7 in the third period and still finds a way to win the game. They are a team that infectiously feeds off momentum, and once they have it, it is tough to get it back.

Therefore, no matter who the Islanders playoff matchup is, it will be difficult.

Ethan Halle

Ethan is an Economics Major at the University of Florida looking to pursue a double major in Sports Management with a minor in political science.